Panfish Season Primer
By Tim Allard
With spring upon us
another exciting panfish season is underway. Crappie, perch, sunfish
and rock bass are all great sport on light tackle from ice-out to
autumn. Here are some preparation tips to jumpstart your success
along with a sampling of tactics to try this year.
Recuperating from
the Ice
More so than other species, most of my panfish gear gets
year-round action. Although the space between ice-out and the
beginning of open-water fishing can be short, it's important to
invest time getting organized so that you start the season off
right.
Preparations include
transferring tackle (like jigs and soft-baits) from your ice fishing
trays to open-water boxes. Also inventory your tackle and replenish
what's been depleted from the previous year.
If your ultra-light reels
are pulling double duty, be sure to service and lubricate them as
well. While you're at it, add fresh line. Use ice thread as backing
to get more bang for your buck from a filler spool.
Shake-Up the
Standard
Once the tedious task of getting your gear organized is
accomplished, take some time to reflect on the upcoming season. A
great way to re-energize your panfish adventures is to experiment
with different presentations beyond your standard go-to offerings,
such as jig and float set-ups for example. Below are some effective
but sometimes overlooked panfish tactics that work all season long.
Pitching
to Weeds
It's not uncommon for largemouth anglers to occasionally land
quality panfish, like crappie, when targeting bass on deep weed
flats. Part of the reason the bass are where they are is because of
forage abundance, including various panfish species.
Working weed flats with
light powered rods might seem like a snag-fest, but the right
approach will curtail hang-ups. The key is using short, precise
casts to place weedless jigs into openings, like pockets and cuts.
The Lindy Veg-E-Jig or Northland Weed Weasel are great options to
pluck out perch and crappie from the weeds. Use a slip bobber if
fish are suspended in the vegetation.
When working outside edges bucktail jigs are an awesome choice.
Their tied-on bodies take loads of abuse, which commonly results
from ripping them free from hang-ups.
Deep-Water Options
Consider a straight-down approach when fish are actively feeding in
deep water areas, like flats or humps. Jigging minnows and rattle
spoons between 1.5 to 2-inches are two popular options. The ruckus
these baits produce is excellent at calling-in fish and then
stimulating them to bite. Aggressively working these lures
discourages smaller fish from striking, while simultaneously
appealing to the appetite of larger panfish.
When faced with fussy or
neutral pannies a drop-shot rig is a great option to coax bites.
It's extremely sensitive and easily transmits the lightest panfish
peck because the sinker's separated from the hook. Also, as the
hook's tied directly to the main line you can make subtle soft-baits
come to life with the lightest rod shake. Two to three inch grubs,
finesse worms, leeches and minnows are all great artificial options.
Another bonus of the rig
is that with an appropriately heavy sinker you'll always maintain
bottom contact, helping you stay in the zone when fish are feeding
near the floor. On a soft bottom, the sinker will kick up a silt
cloud mimicking the maelstrom created from active bottom-feeders,
like perch. This is a sure-fire way to attract curious panfish.
Whether you vertically jig
or drop-shot in deep water you're in for some line twist. To
eliminate this headache, tie on a quality, micro-swivel a few feet
above your lure.
Shore-Fish More
From spring to fall, slipping out for an hour or two during the week
to target panfish from shore is one of my favorite stress-relievers.
I encourage you to do more of it this season. Regardless of whether
your homestead is urban, suburban or rural, there's often a stream,
river or lake in close proximity you can cozy up to from shore and
wet a line.
To me, part of the fun of
shore fishing is its spontaneity and simplicity. The best way to set
yourself up for success is being organized so you can quickly grab
your gear and go. I keep a small tackle tray stocked with my
shore-fishing favorites. It sits in a weathered backpack that
carries some release tools and a few other odds and ends. Within
minutes I can shoulder the bag, grab a rod and be out the door.
Don't discount the fun of tying on an old pair of running shoes and
getting your feet wet on a hot summer day.
Spin-Off Benefits
Although catching panfish is a hoot in and of itself in spring and
early summer, it also has perks for multi-species adventurers later
in the year. Getting the boat out early provides plenty of time to
troubleshoot and repair problems caused by boat-storage gremlins.
Come walleye and pike opener, I fish with a lot more confidence
knowing I've already put my rig through the paces chasing panfish.
Spring fishing also helps
you brush up on important skills. It's a great setting to practice
launching your boat, controlling it in various conditions,
re-familiarizing yourself with your electronics, and acclimatizing
your muscles to important fishing movements like casting and
standing balance.
Rushing streams and the earthy smell from a thawed frost line signal
the start of the open-water season. Celebrate the arrival of spring
by getting your boat and equipment organized early and enjoy some
panfish action while charting a course for a great overall
multi-species year.
Editors & Publishers
T.J. & Monique Quesnel
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